Scale Groups

• There are three groups of scale bugs: armored scale, soft scale and mealybugs. The armored and soft scale bugs feed on the sap of fruit trees, including cherry trees. They are most destructive in the larval, or crawler, stage.
  
  

European Fruit Lecanium

• The European fruit lecanium (soft scale) is a small, brown, cup-shaped scale that is approximately 1/8 inch long. Crawlers are active in late spring
  
  

Cottony Maple Scale

• The cottony maple scale (soft scale) is easily identified by the masses of white egg sacs that form on twigs and young branches. Crawlers are active in early summer.
  
  

San Jose Scale

• San Jose scale (armored scale) is dark brown in color, convex and 1/16 inch in length. The crawlers are active in June, July and September.
  
  

Oystershell Scale

• The oystershell scale (armored scale) is 1/8 inch in length. It has an oyster shell shape, and is brown or gray in color, matching the bark of the tree. Crawlers are active in late spring and mid-summer.
  
  

White Peach Scale

• White peach scale (armored scale) is 1/10 inch in circumference and resembles a tiny fried egg. Crawlers are active in early spring, mid and late summer.